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And it shall come to pass afterward, that 
I zoill pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; 
and your sons and your daughters shall 
prophesy, your old men shall dream 
dreams, your young men shall see visions. 
Joel, 2:28. 



Clje ^ong of a 



BY 
FRANCIS G. HANCHETT 




CHICAGO 
PRIVATELY PRINTED 









Copyright, iqi5 by 
FRANCIS G. HANCHETT 



DEC 16 1915 

CI.A418U43 



THIS LITTLE VOLUME 
IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED 

KATE GILES HANCHETT 



For foetry is faith. * * * Poetry is the 
gai science. * * * Poetry is the consola- 
tion of mortal men. * * * Bring us the 
bards who shall sing all of our old ideas out 
of our heads i and new ones in; men-making 
-poets. * * * celestial Bacchus! drive 
them mad, — this multitude of vagabonds, 
hungry for eloquence, hungry for poetry, 
starving for symbols, * * ♦ and in the 
long delay indemnifying themselves with 
the false wine of alcohol, of politics, or of 
money. Poetry and Imagination. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

In the very core of the world's heart stands 
immortal youth. * * * 

Every morning the day is reborn among 
the newly blossomed flowers with the same 
message retold and the same assurance 
renewed that death eternally dies, that the 
waves of turmoil are on the surface, and 
that the sea of tranquillity is fathomless. 
* * * 

The human soul is on its journey from 
law to love, from discipline to liberation, 
from the moral plane to the spiritual. * * * 
Only he has attained the final truth who 
knows that the whole world is a creation of 
joy. Sadhana. (The Realization of 
Life.) Rabindranath Tagore. 



Jforetoorb 

It would seem that the most casual 
observer of the world's history must realize 
that we are fast approaching a climax in 
human affairs. 

To one watching carefully the signs of 
the times during the past generation it is 
obvious that, in spite of the splendid results 
achieved in science, invention and industry, 
we have passed through a night of spiritual- 
ity, an age of materialism, which could not 
last and the darkness of which is fast dis- 
appearing. 

The morning of a better day is approach- 
ing. Poets were the first to prophesy it. 
New spiritual and idealistic movements 
heralded its advent, and the ever widen- 
ing humanitarian movement, both social 
and industrial, is an earnest that the new 
day is close at hand. 

While the war in which the world is now 
involved is seemingly a step backward into 

[9] 



FOREWORD 



the night, it is looked upon by many as but 
a clearing of the stage for a more beautiful 
and spiritual civilization. 

To me, an optimist, the tragic events of 
the present seem but part of the great 
evolutionary plan, and I am often reminded 
of Cowper's lines: 

"God moves in a mysterious way 
His wonders to perform, 
He plants His footsteps on the sea 
And rides upon the storm." 

In gaining the exalted viewpoint ex- 
pressed in the following poem I wish grate- 
fully to acknowledge especial help from 
the writings of Emerson, Whitman, Words- 
worth, Tagore and Eucken, and from the 
eloquent and inspired modern prophet, 

Annie Besant. 

Francis G. Hanchett. 

Plano, III. 
November, 1915. 



[lo] 



*We must look for the germinating of the 
spiritual man, not of the intellectual; that 
which is beyond intellect, that which is 
higher than the scientific mind, the quali- 
ties that have shown out in the great 
religious teachers of the past, the qualities 
that characterized the Buddha, the Christ, 
are the spiritual qualities as apart from 
the intellectual; and it is the germinating 
of those qualities now which will make the 
origin of the Race that is to be. * * * 
For what is the great mark of such spirit- 
ual types of humanity, what the quality 
that shines out above all others wherever 
they appear upon earth? It is that qual- 
ity that to-day we name Brotherhood, the 
recognition of that unity of life which 
makes for all-embracing compassion and 
boundless self-sacrifice. 

The Changing World, 

Annie Besant. 



Solitary, singing in the West, I strike 
up for a New World. 

* * * * * 

J say no man has ever yet been half devout 

enough. 

None has ever yet adored or worshiped half 

enough. 

None has begun to think how divine he 

himself is, and how certain the future is. 

J say that the real and permanent grandeur 

of these States must be their religion. 

Starting from Paumanok, 
Walt Whitman. 




^fje ^ong of a 
©atuning i^aj> 

/i^^UR young men are seeing visions, 
\j^ Our old men are dreaming dreams, 
And on mountain peaks already 
Rising sun of wisdom gleams; 
Prophets peering towards the future, 

Poets with an inner sight, 
See the rosy glow of morning 
Tinting gloomy clouds of night. 

I have seen prophetic vision 

Of the future of our world, 
And an Angel stands before me 

With Love's rosy flag unfurled, 
And upon the firm foundation 

That our pilgrim fathers laid 
Has been reared Celestial Temple 

Wisdom's blessed cause to aid. 

[13] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

Sparkling fires of inspiration, 

On its altars brightly burning, 
Have lit up in every bosom 

God-like spark of heavenly yearning; 
And a choir of poet-prophets 

Sings such songs of joyous truth 
That the age forgets its sorrows 

And the world renews its youth. 

And all men believe the poets, 

Listen to their songs with glee. 
Mould their lives to fit the pattern 

Poets see of what should be; 
For there is creative genius 

In the hearts of all mankind 
That will make a new world for us 

When true poets stir the mind. 

So great poets draw the picture 

Of the world as it should be. 
And the genius of the people 

Builds a temple for the free; 
And the drama is enacted 

On our temple's ample stage 
Of the dreams of greatest poets 

Of a new and better age. 

[14I 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

If you are already wakened 

You can see the East adorning, 
You can see the world rejoicing 

With the rosy hues of morning; 
If you listen most intently 

You can hear the morning lay 
Of the birds already singing 

Of the new and dawning day. 

Dear Walt Whitman sang the prelude, 

In prophetic new world songs, 
Of a better age before us 

That will right the old world's wrongs; 
And he told us our achievements 

In the proud and glorious past 
Were but faint and feeble tuning 

For melodious songs at last. 

And the prophet bard of Concord 

Sang of a transition time, 
Training us at last to listen 

To the everlasting chime; 
And he taught a high religion 

That, without a tinge of sadness, 
Is as sweet as a May morning, 

And as full of joy and gladness. 

[15] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

We have been asleep, my brothers, 

And but dreaming in the night. 
When we thought we were mere worldlings 

And devoid of heavenly light; 
When we thought that Mammon worship, 

Selfish strife or sordid greed, 
Could bring joy or satisfaction. 

Or supply our greatest need. 

But the rising sun of wisdom, 

Making darkness fade away. 
And the music of the warblers. 

Ushering in the glad new day. 
Will awake to its real purpose 

The divine and God-like part. 
The creative fire and genius. 

Slumbering deep in every heart. 

And when men have once awakened 

To the beauty of God's plan, 
And the God-like strength and grandeur 

Of a self-reliant man. 
Our old earth will be invested 

With celestial charm and spell. 
And, in tune with God*s great purpose, 

Men will know that all is well. 

[i6] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

When men think our Hfe a riddle 

They are hampered in the strife, 
When they see its worth and meaning 

They are filled with buoyant life; 
Every age which doubt enfeebles 

Bathes our earth in gloomy night. 
Every age which faith ennobles 

Is a day of joyous light. 

And I like that ancient fable 

Of the lion reared with sheep, 
While he thought himself a lambkin 

His real nature was asleep, 
But the self-deluded lion 

Was a weakling lamb no more 
When his face the river mirrored 

And he heard the lion's roar. 

So in self-deluded man 

Is a mighty strength concealed, 
Till to him his soul is mirrored 

And the God within revealed; 
Then he is no more a weakling. 

But with faith in self elate 
Gains in struggle strength and courage 

And is master of his fate. 

[17] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

For the man with mind illumined, 

Who has learned the better way, 
Will be strong and face life's struggles 

With the glee of boys at play; 
Like strong swimmer he will buffet 

Waves of care with joyous thrill. 
Like an athlete he will glory 

In the climb of life's steep hill. 

Matching strength in joyous struggle 

Is the play of healthy boys, 
Matching fate with buoyant spirit 

Gives strong men triumphant joys; 
For the world was planned with wisdom 

And when men are truly wise 
They keep step with God's glad music 

And to noble raptures rise. 

Ignorance, like night's dark mantle. 

Shrouds our earth in fear and gloom, 
But when sun of wisdom rises 

Flowers of hope and joy will bloom; 
And the dawning day of wisdom. 

Which already gilds the peaks, 
Will drive darkness from each bosom 

And reveal the peace it seeks. 

[i8] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

As our lives grow pure and simple 

Inspiration from above 
Fills our hearts with gladsome knowledge 

That our earth is ruled by Love, 
And that we are God's own children, 

Nurtured with most tender care, 
And are only grieved and chastened 

That our lives may grow more fair. 

Then whatever may befall us 

We are sure is for the best, 
And in faith and sweet contentment 

Our uneasy hearts find rest; 
We are hindered on life's journey 

Till our hearts all doubt dispel. 
And we lose our heavy burdens 

When we know that all is well. 

Being children of one Father 

It is clear that we are brothers 
And best show our heavenly birthright 

When we love and care for others; 
When we learn this simple lesson 

And are kind to every man, 
We are doing much to hasten 

The success of God's great plan. 

[19] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

When we help a struggling brother 

And can make his burden lighter, 
When we cheer him on his journey 

And can make the world look brighter, 
We are showing him the value 

Of the world's most sacred story. 
We are lighting up earth's darkness 

With a ray of heaven's glory. 

0, how happy are the hearts 

Who in sorrow's school have learned 
That for every aching heart 

Joy is surely being earned! 
Who by suffering nobly borne, 

And by wealth of ripening years, 
Catch a glimpse of life's sweet meaning 

Sparkling even in its tears! 

For the man of many summers. 

Whom ripe wisdom fills with joy. 
Adds to youth's ecstatic visions. 

And the wonder of a boy, 
A mature and mellow knowledge 

That can see in sin and sorrow 
Unripe joy and budding wisdom 

For the harvest of to-morrow. 

[20] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

Then he listens more intently 

To the wisdom of the sages, 
And he finds a joyous answer 

To the riddle of the ages; 
For he learns that evolution 

Is a secret of God's plan, 
And that progress to perfection 

Is the destiny of man. 

And he sees that every brother, 

Though his sins are dark in hue, 
Is most surely marching onward 

To enjoy the good and true; 
And his brother still may loiter. 

Or may hasten on the way, 
But he cannot miss good fortune 

On some glad and glorious day. 

And his heart is filled w^ith music. 

For he hears a holy strain 
That explains all seeming discord 

And the blessedness of pain; 
'Tis the everlasting melody, 

The glad music of the spheres. 
And it drives away all sadness 

From the ripened heart that hears. 

[21] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

And his world is filled with beauty, 

And his heart is full of joy, 
For his answer to life's problem 

Leaves him nothing to annoy; 
So light-hearted and courageous 

He performs each task at hand, 
Lending glad and willing service 

To promote a scheme so grand. 

In the dawning day of Greece 

Orpheus, with his golden lyre, 
Wakened men to see life's beauty 

And set frozen hearts on fire; 
But still loftier strains of music 

Shall the age of wisdom sing. 
For the melody of heaven 

To the earth our bards shall bring. 

In the rigorous school of life 

Some hard lessons must be learned, 
But when every task is mastered 

Peace and freedom will be earned; 
And we may be always cheerful 

And each rugged task enjoy. 
If we know life's glorious purpose 

And our God-like strength employ. 

[22] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 



As the meaning of the seed, 

In imprisoning earth concealed, 
Is the giant, branching tree. 

Which in time will be revealed, 
So the purpose of our Hfe, 

Fettered in this world of tears, 
Is that seed divine may grow 

Till the perfect man appears. 

And we do not see the purpose 

Of our life upon this earth 
Till we throw upon the problem 

The side-light of our rebirth; 
For the span of one brief life 

Is by far too short a time 
For a man to learn life's lessons 

And its rugged heights to climb. 

Then we see by intuition 

Man must pass through many plights 
And must live out many lifetimes 

Ere he climbs to wisdom's heights; 
And we see the ancient Path 

That so many saints have trod 
As they climbed the Mount of Knowledge 

Leading up from man to God. 

[23] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

In the journey of the soul 

From the savage to the saint 
Many lifetimes must be spent 

Till we live without complaint; 
When we graduate from school, 

And all lessons have been learned, 
When the soul has grown and ripened. 

Then our freedom we have earned. 

For our world is not a Chaos, 

But a Cosmos full of beauty. 
And we climb towards life's high summit 

As we tread the path of duty; 
In this world of law and order 

We shall reap whatever we sow. 
And by sowing seeds of virtue 

A rich harvest we may grow. 

In the day that now is dawning. 

In the age that lies ahead, 
Men will strive for heavenly wisdom 

More than merely earthly bread; 
They will welcome a spare diet 

And in simple dress be clad, 
If their souls may gain in wisdom 

And their hearts be made more glad. 

[Hi 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 



They will take a hint from prophets, 

From the poets and the sages, 
From the men whose lives have counted. 

From the wise of all the ages. 
And will gain by simple living 

Leisure for high contemplation 
On the meaning and the purpose 

Of God's wonderful creation. 

And, in turn, this contemplation 

Will create an inner sight 
That will lead to higher knowledge 

And will guide their lives aright; 
For their eyes will have the vision 

That makes prophets see the truth 
And fills poets with the rapture 

That predicts immortal youth. 

For the pure and simple minded 

Only see the highest truth; 
They alone respond to beauty 

With the innocence of youth; 
Saints and sages with the wisdom 

Which long suffering has gained 
Come again to youth's bright visions, — 

For these dreams have been attained. 

[25] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

In the journey of the ages 

We have reached transition stage; 
Failure of our Mammon worship 

Has prepared for simpler age; 
Rising on the wrecks of time, 

With mistake for stepping-stone, 
The real grandeur of our nature 

Is about to claim its own. 

We shall build a nobler age; 

Simpler tastes and wise desires, 
Which a higher wisdom brings, 

In our breasts shall kindle fires 
Which shall light the world with beauty 

And shall warm men's fainting hearts 
With the courage and the cheer 

Nobly to perform their parts. 

In the passing age of doubt. 

In the dying day of greed. 
Have we not our lessons learned? 

Have these things supplied our need.? 
Can this age of selfish strife, 

With the dollar on the throne. 
With religion in the background. 

For our blood and guile atone .f* 

[26] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

Look upon the world-wide war 

Which the dying age has brought, 
Might we not expect such outcome 

From an age which gold has bought? 
Is it not the awful harvest 

Of an age of greedy strife ? 
Is it not the fitting climax 

Of an age of Godless life ? 

Then behold the war of classes 

Which the age of greed has brought, 
Contemplate the dreadful havoc 

That a Godless age has wrought; 
Think how greed and irreligion 

Make us prey on one another, 
And, that we in ease may fatten. 

Make us starve a human brother. 

When we tire of being worldlings 

And have had enough of greed. 
When external comforts fail us 

And we feel religion's need. 
When our outer wealth proves empty 

And we long for inner joys. 
We shall break our age's idols 

And shall fling away its toys. 

[27] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

The new age will be religious 

In a true and glorious way 
That will fill the world with music 

And of work make joyous play; 
For the gospel of glad tidings 

Will at last be understood, 
And discerning God's great purpose 

Men will see that all is good. 

They will see this world is fitted 

As a school for growing souls, 
And is full of tests and trials 

Leading up to higher goals; 
They will see God's hand is leading. 

Through this maze of care and crime. 
His dear children, with wise guidance 

To a destiny sublime. 

The new man will be courageous. 

For his faith will make him strong; 
He will glory in his burdens 

And will journey with a song; 
Faith and courage will make joyous 

Struggles which fear makes with pain. 
And in making joyous struggle 

A new strength his soul will gain. 

[28] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

We shall taste of sorrow's sweetness, 

And, with joy, the cross shall know, 
Which our blessed Master hallowed 

When he bore the whole world's woe; 
Sacrifice is joyous giving, 

And the wine of love we gain 
When our hearts are crushed and mellowed 

In the grinding-mill of pain. 

And the Buddha's loving heart. 

Which the world's sad suffering crushed, 
As he wept with all his brothers. 

Found, at last, all sadness hushed; 
Listening long, beneath the Bo tree. 

To the inner heart of things. 
He was lumined with the gladness 

Which celestial wisdom brings. 

Joy will come in this fresh morning. 

With her brush of blushing light. 
And will paint hope's gorgeous colors 

On the gloomy clouds of night; 
Then the song birds will awaken 

And will tell of day begun. 
And our drowsy eyes will open 

To the glory of the sun. 

[29] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

With revival of religion 

Poetry will have rebirth, 
And together these twin sisters 

Will revive our drooping earth; 
Fairest flowers again will blossom 

Where foul weeds so long have flourished, 
And the muse our age neglected 

Will with choicest care be nourished. 

While despised and much neglected 

By commercial age now going, 
In the better age before us, 

For whose harvest we are sowing, 
Poetry, with gossamer wings. 

To the heavens will soar again, 
And, with music there heard murmured. 

Cheer the fainting hearts of men. 

During vaunted age of science, 

With our pride in worldly things. 
In the dirt we have been crawling 

And ignoring heavenly wings; 
As some bird with strange delusion 

From the earth might fail to rise. 
So have men neglected pinions 

Which might bear them to the skies. 

[30] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

We shall have a glad awakening 

To a more abundant life, 
And inspired by art and beauty 

Shall abandon sordid strife; 
Love of nature will make poets 

Of a nobler race of men, 
And the beauty God has lavished 

Shall be seen and loved again. 

The soft music glad brooks murmur 

Will no longer be unheard, 
Nor dull ears neglect the rapture 

Of each sweetly singing bird; 
And love-letters God has written 

In the flowers that deck the field 
Will not come to heedless children 

With their message unrevealed. 

And the poetry of pastures 

Shall no longer be unread, 
Nor with silence of the forest 

Shall our souls remain unfed; 
Not in vain the morning's glory 

Shall its inspiration bring. 
Nor unheard by noisy world 

Shall the stars their anthems sing. 

[31] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

For the calmness of the forest 

Our uneasy hearts shall feel, 
And the beauty of the landscape 

Into peaceful lives shall steal; 
And, in turn, when nature struggles, 

And the tempests rise and lower, 
We will gather up our thunder 

And respond with God-like power. 

In earth's cozy nooks and corners. 

Where exquisite flowerets bloom, 
In wild woods by flowing rivers. 

Men shall learn to lose their gloom; 
Under fleecy clouds of summer. 

When the blue of heaven is fair. 
In the sunshine, on green carpets, 

We shall leave our loads of care. 

We shall use the outer sunshine 

To make sunshine in the heart, 
And repose we find in nature 

To our souls we shall impart; 
While at first our charming wood-path 

Leads away from noisy marts. 
It winds back to our dear brothers 

Whom we greet with warmer hearts. 

[32] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

When the sun, God's shining garment, 

Is brought forth for His adorning. 
And our sleeping earth is wakened 

By the beauty of the morning, 
Has this miracle of splendor, 

Bringing a new day to birth. 
Wakened in your slumbering bosom 

Visions of a glad new earth? 

When the West is banked with glory 

By a gorgeous sunset glow. 
And the twilight stoops to kiss you 

As the stars begin to show, 
Have you pondered on the meaning 

Of this wonderful display 
Till your quiet heart responded 

With a glow that made you gay? 

When the apple-blossoms open 

In the fragrant month of May, 
And the birds their rapture warble 

While the woods with flowers are gay. 
Did you ever hear the rustle 

Of an angel's silken wing. 
While your heart contained the heaven 

Of which thrushes sweetly sing? 

[33] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

When the magic wand of autumn 

Conjures up its mystic haze, 
And, with colors fetched from heaven. 

Sets enchanted woods ablaze, 
Has your heart become so quiet, 

And so warmed by blazing earth, 
That a vision still more wondrous 

Gave your soul a glad rebirth? 

So the children of the future 

Shall become enlightened men 
As at Nature's shrine they worship 

And through joy are born again; 
As their souls this nectar suck 

From dear Mother Nature's breast 
They shall grow in strength and beauty 

And shall gain celestial rest. 

And ten thousand charms of nature, 

On prosaic ages wasted. 
Will prove nectar of the gods 

When poetic age has tasted; 
The devoted love of nature 

Will our hearts and lives attune. 
And will lead to holy places 

Where with God we may commune. 

[34] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

For a golden age of silence 

Will succeed our age of noise, 
And the sweetness of seclusion 

Will give men a quiet poise; 
In the stillness of the silence 

We shall hear God's gentle voice, 
And with love and wisdom whispered 

We shall make the world rejoice. 

While this silence will bring wisdom, 

We shall not like hermits live, 
But the inner wealth we garner 

It shall be our joy to give; 
We shall listen in the silence 

For a message from the skies. 
And when God has whispered to us 

From our musing we shall rise. 

We shall bring to struggling brothers 

The glad news we have been told, 
And with faith and cheerful knowledge 

We shall make our brothers bold; 
For our grasping age is passing. 

And we all shall learn ere long 
That true rapture comes in giving, 

As the bird pours forth its song. 

[35] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

For the sun of heavenly wisdom, 

Rising now in eastern sky, 
Lighting clouds of human hatred 

With the morning's rosy dye. 
Is fulfilHng the glad tidings 

Bards have told of coming good, 
And is bringing joyous dawning 

Of the day of brotherhood. 

All great poets and true prophets, 

Ever since the world began, 
Have been singing in sweet rapture 

Of the brotherhood of man; 
Now that day at last is dawning 

And our eyes with joy behold 
The first streaks of rosy color 

Prophesied by bards of old. 

The black clouds of war and bloodshed, 

Lingering on the morning sky. 
Are the dark before the dawning 

To the bard's discerning eye; 
All the horror and the anguish 

Of this fratricidal strife 
Are but birth-pangs of the mother 

Bringing the new age to life. 

[36] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

For the clouds of war shall scatter, 

And above the ruins wrought 
Shall arise a nobler life 

By the blood of martyrs bought; 
On the wrecks of selfish ages, 

Paid for by our present woe, 
Fairer days and blissful life 

Of the age of love shall grow. 

And the men who now are dying 

On the cruel battle field 
Shall come back to reap the harvest 

Which their deeds of courage yield 
Towards the building for the future 

Of the new and better time 
When the head and heart combining 

Shall produce an age sublime. 

For the struggles of the ages 

Have made strong the human mind, 
And the ancient school of sorrow 

Has trained hearts and made them kind; 
Men are ready for the knowledge 

Telling how on Path to rise 
Through the lowly vale of sorrow 

Up the mountain to the skies. 

[37] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

O, how blessed is the union 

When sweet Love and Knowledge wed, 
And in symmetry are blended 

A kind heart and knowing head ! 
For as child of this glad marriage 

Heavenly Wisdom shall be born, 
And her smile of radiant beauty 

Shall create earth's fairest morn! 

Have you stood by open grave, 

As your heart with grief was broken. 
While such tender hearts surrounded, 

And such loving words were spoken, 
That your neighbors seemed like angels. 

And you felt the coming birth, — 
The already dawning day, — 

Of good will and peace on earth ? 

When misfortune, with dark mantle. 

Clouds with grief some happy land. 
Have you heard the world's compassion 

Swell in chorus sweet and grand ? 
Have you noticed, in such hour. 

With what tender, human pleasure. 
To bind up the broken hearts, 

The whole world pours forth its treasure? 

[38] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

Then your kindled heart must tell you, 

And your gladdened eyes behold, 
That the day of love is dawning. 

By the prophets long foretold. 
Then you feel the glowing warmness 

Rising sun of wisdom brings. 
And, while wakened birds are warbling. 

Your full heart with rapture sings. 

0, how blissful, my dear brothers. 

Shall the day of love arise. 
As the sun mounts slowly upward 

Through the warm and smiling skies! 
As in balmy days of Springtime 

Snow banks turn to banks of flowers. 
So with love cold hearts will blossom 

In these warm and sunny hours! 

As this dawning day progresses. 

And, at last, men are real brothers. 
They shall find the holy grail. 

And, in giving joy to others. 
They shall sip from hallowed chalice 

Sweetest nectar gods can drink, 
And shall feel compassion's rapture, — 

Sweetest thought that men can think. 

[39] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

O, dear, tempted, troubled brother, 

Summon up your higher-self! 
Do not let your passions rule you! 

Do not sell your soul for pelf! 
For the battle is within you; 

Heaven is also slumbering there; 
Make a Pegasus of passions 

And mount up to purer air. 

You can win decisive battle 

In the struggles of your breast; 
Then a heaven will dawn within you 

And your troubled heart find rest; 
You can bring within your bosom 

A new day of joy to birth; 
You can help to hasten dawning 

Of the day of love on earth. 

Heal your aching heart by helping 

Some dear brother in distress; 
Garner wisdom from the sages 

That you may know how to bless; 
For if each of us would sweeten 

With a little of love's leven, 
Our old earth, with all it's trouble. 

Would soon blossom into heaven. 

[40] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

Have you drunk the skeptic poison 

Of the passing age of doubt 
Till your inner eyes are drowsy 

And you only look without? 
Has materialistic age, 

With its miasmatic air, 
Smothered all your intuition 

Of the good, the true and fair? 

Can you not believe in coming 

Of a fairer age than this, 
When in truth all men are brothers 

And to live on earth is bliss? 
Then go read the heavenly poets. 

Who have gladdened every land, 
And, awakened by sweet wisdom. 

You, with joy, will understand. 

While the day of brotherhood 

Shall shine brightly everywhere. 
It will dawn in its first splendor 

On our land so free and fair; 
When the hearts of men were ripening, 

Our new world, by heavenly plan. 
Was to mingle bloods of nations 

For the making of new man. 

[411 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

So to land of glowing hope, 

Where glad Freedom's cradle rocked, 
Men of strength and dauntless courage. 

In youth's buoyancy, have flocked; 
From each clime our welcome brothers 

Have new gifts of virtue brought. 
And new thoughts on life's deep meaning 

Into glorious fabric wrought. 

O, America, America, 

Fairest daughter of the earth, 
You were favored by the gods 

And to Liberty gave birth! 
O, dear Mother, blessed Mother, 

You shall bear still holier child. 
Who shall wield Love's gentle sceptre 

And shall make the nations mild! 

O, America, America, 

You have nursed on loving breast 
Sons of every race and nation 

Seeking shelter and sweet rest! 
O, dear Mother, blessed Mother, 

So affectionate and good, 
God has chosen you for rearing 

Of fair child of Brotherhood! 

[42] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

O, America, America, 

Through your faith and firm belief, 
You are building Love's fair temple 

For a suffering world's relief! 
O, dear Mother, blessed Mother, 

For mild tolerance you have stood, 
And this bud shall sweetly blossom 

Into flower of Brotherhood! 

O, America, America, 

God has chosen you to show 
How on fertile soil of friendship 

Sweet compassion's flower may grow! 
O, dear Mother, blessed Mother, 

By your kindness to our brothers 
You shall teach the joy of giving, — 

The sweet bliss of helping others! 

And the rising Sun of Splendor 

That shall light this dawning day, 
And with genial warmth and gladness 

Shall chase gloomy night away, 
Shall be Teacher with a message 

From the land beyond the skies, 
And celestial love and wisdom 

Shall shine forth from beaming eyes. 

[43] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

A new testament of love 

By His Messenger God shall send, 
And with melody and rapture 

The sad age of doubt shall end; 
And this gospel for new era, 

With ideals new and good, 
Shall begin the happy morning 

Of the day of Brotherhood. 

He will be our Elder Brother, 

Who has passed along the road, 
Who knows all our heavy burdens 

And would help us with our load; 
The same Master of Compassion 

Who, two thousand years ago, 
With the gospel of glad tidings 

Set the world with love aglow. 

He has told us He would come 

When the world should need His care, 
And the ripening of this age 

Should again the way prepare; 
He has heard the cr}^ of need 

From a world in sad distress 
And His tender heart is yearning 

Soon again our world to bless. 

[44] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 



He is coming! He is coming! 

We can feel His presence near, 
And the echo of His footsteps 

On the mountain-side can hear; 
We are favored, my dear brothers. 

In these wondrous times to live, 
When to make His path less stony 

Loving service we may give. 

Let us then, my dear, dear brothers, 

With all haste prepare the way 
That the Master's feet shall hallow 

In this sweet, millennial day; 
Countless as the leaves of forest 

May His glad disciples be 
When again from hatred's thraldom 

Suffering world He comes to free. 

May we gain the heavenly knowledge 

That can light earth's darkest day; 
May love's flame with holy fire 

Burn all selfishness away; 
Then the Master we shall welcome. 

And His Kingdom understand, 
When again He comes to make 

The whole world a Holy Land. 

[45] 



THE SONG OF A DAWNING DAY 

For all down the troubled ages, 

While the world was growing wise, 
God has sent His holy Teachers 

With a message from the skies; 
And sweet bards and blessed prophets 

Have foretold, in heavenly song. 
The new age and new religion 

That should help to right earth's wrong. 

As the birds, before the dawning, 

While the sky is dark and grey. 
With soft notes of flute-like music 

Prophesy the coming day. 
So our hearts, with intuition. 

Though the night seems dark and long, 
Feel the rosy glow of morning 

And would herald it in song. 

As one bird, and then another, 

Pipes his praises to the morn. 
And all join in swelling chorus 

When in splendor day is born. 
So we sing of earth's new morning 

As we waken, one by one. 
And shall swell triumphant chorus 

At the rising of the Sun. 

[46] 



PRINTED BY R. E. DONNELLEY 
AND SONS COMPANY AT THE 
LAKESIDE PRESS, CHICAGO, ILL. 



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